EPs by Shani.O

With so many CDs commanding and
demanding attention Elsewhere will run this occasional column by the
informed and opinionated Shani.O.

She will scoop up some of those many
EP releases, in much the same way as our SHORT CUTS column picks
up albums by New Zealand artists, and IN BRIEF does for international
artists.

Shani.O's profile appears at the end
of these brief but pointed reviews . . .

Bannerman:
Here Comes The Day:

Here
Comes The Day opens with the orchestral title track, reminiscent of
prog-rock experimentation and an almost theatrical introduction to
this trilogy. Alone, Not Alone enters as a much more conventionally
formatted song, stripping back intricacies to let inventive lyrics
take centre stage and breathe out in an expansive outro. Final track
Walk with Me This Night is removed yet again in its light waltz feel
with beautifully constructed interaction between melody and harmony.
With each song set so distinctively against the next, one is inclined
to take note of the one thread that runs throughout this EP; a
bittersweet sense of loneliness both in lyric and instrumentation,
enhanced carefully by the sonic separation of vocals from the rest of
the mix. Poetic, experimental and beautifully lonely, NZ singer-songwriter Bannerman’s
latest EP can be found here
on Spotify
and here
on iTunes
for your listening pleasure. For more on Bannerman's previous releases see here.

LP:
Death Valley:

American LP’s
latest EP is genre-bending experiment in Sixties/Seventies rock
influence and pop sensibility, with undeniably strong songwriting
capability and wide pool of inspiration lying at the heart. Opener
Muddy Waters is an immediate stand-out, introducing a rhythm and
blues style bed of haunting vocal harmonies from the outset -- a
theme that crops up throughout the EP -- and what appears to be some
hip-hop influence sprinkled within the arrangement. Surprisingly, the
genre mishmash works, and not only that, puts this artist in a
setting where the songs seem to transcend time. Grounded only to the
21st Century in the single Lost On You, the most commercial of the
lot, LP -- aka Laura Pergolizzi -- embraces a hook-y chorus characterised by her effortlessly
cool and raspy vocals. A quality EP with wide appeal and expertly
blended influence, make sure to check it out here
on Spotify
and here
on iTunes.

Marley
Sola: Marley Sola:

With
four acoustic guitar-driven pop/r’n’b tracks, Marley’s Sola’s
debut self-titled EP is a cohesive unit that knows where it stands.
Clearly a fan of understated, groove-driven choruses, Sola -- formerly in the boy band Moorhouse on X Factor -- has
refreshingly shied away from the lure of the huge pop chorus, instead
relying on the strength of his incredible vocal range and agility, as
well as organic dynamic shifts to take the songs where they need to
go. Latest single Fill Me Up exhibits the same laid-back vibe and
lets the vocals do the talking, with Sola jumping up the octave on
the second verse melody with impressive ease and musicality and
staying in the upper register to smash out the infectious chorus. An
exciting piece of work from a clearly talented and forward-thinking
artist, Marley Sola’s EP is now available for streaming on Spotify,
and preview/
purchase on iTunes.

Shani.O is a
musician/songwriter/performer, currently completing a BMus in Popular
Music at the University of Auckland and graduating at the end of the
year.

With so many CDs commanding and
demanding attention Elsewhere will run this occasional column by the
informed and opinionated Shani.O.
She will scoop up some of those many
EP releases, in... > Read more

With so many CDs commanding and
demanding attention Elsewhere will run this occasional column by the
informed and opinionated Shani.O.
She will scoop up some of those many
EP releases, in... > Read more

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